Device for stiffening toes of footwear



(No ModeL).

W. D. BREWER. DEVIGE FOR STIFFENING TOES OF FOOTWEAR. No. 564,966. Patented Aug. 4, 1896.

mus Pnzns co. PHOTO-uTl-(b. 'wsnwe'ron, a. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

YVALTER D. BREWER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRED C. BADER, OF QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

DEVICE FOR STIFFENING TOES OF FOOTWEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,966, dated August 4, 1896,

Application filed March 23, 1896.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER D. BREWER, of the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for stiffening the Toes of Footweanof which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to a device for stiffening the toes of footwear; and it consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan View of my device after it is out from the original sheet and before it is pressed into shape for use. Fig. 2 is a modified form of the part shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the toe of a boot or shoe, showing my device in position for use. Fig. at is a top plan view of the part shown in Fig. 8, the upper of the toe being broken away to show my device. Fig. 5 is a perspective of the device shown in Fig. 1 after it is pressed into form for use. Fig. 6 is a perspective of the part shown in Fig. 2 after it is pressed into form for use.

The stiffener 1 is stamped from sheet metal and is approximately triangular in form, with a right-angled notch 2 cut in one point, and a series of small apertures 3 is punched in the body thereof, either in staggered rows or promiscuously, as desired. On opposite edges, and near the points farthest from the apex of said edges,are formed ratchetfaces 4: and 5, with the teeth pointing from said apex, as shown in Fig. 1-.

The stiffener 1 is pressed into a form corresponding approximately to the shape of the toe of the boot or shoe into which it is to be inserted, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The operation of pressing closes the notch 2 and forms a semiconical point which fits in the point of the shoe, as shown in Fig. 4. hen the stiff- Serial No. 584,451. (No model.)

ener thus formed is pressed into the toe of the boot or shoe, the ratchet-faces 4.- and 5 engage the sole and hold the stiffener in position, as shown in Fig. 3. This form of stiffeneris designed for narrow-pointed toes.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 2 the stiffener 6 is stamped from sheet metal and is approximately semicircular in form, having the triangularnotches 7, 8, and 9 out one in the center of the rounded edge and one on each side of said center, and on the opposite ends of said rounded edge are ratchet-faces 10 and 11, and apertures 12 are punched in the body thereof. The stiffener 6 is pressed into a form corresponding to the toe of the boot or shoe into which it is to be inserted.

In the operation of pressing the notches 7, 8, and 9 are closed, forming a semioval point, as shown in Fig. 6. This form of stiffener is designed for broad toes.

In the operation of my device the stiffener holds the toe of the upper in shape and sustains the pressure from the toes of the foot.

I claim- 1. As an article of manufacture, a toestiifener comprising a sheet of metal of the desired size andshape and having teeth on its lower edges, said teeth being designed to engage the sole of the shoe and hold said stiffener in position, substantially as specified.

2. As an article of manufacture, a toe-stifi ener comprising a sheet of metal of the desired size and shape and having teeth on its lower edges, said teeth being designed to engage the sole of the shoe and hold said stiffener in position, said stiffener being perforated to form ventilation for the toe of the wearer, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

. WALTER D. BREWER. \Vitnesses Mann GRIFFIN,

S. G. WELLs. 

